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Apple Rejects Valve’s iOS Steam Link App Citing “Business Conflicts”

Valve Appealed the Block But Was Also Denied

Valve’s iOS Steam Link application was supposed to have launched yesterday on the Apple App Store, but it appears that Apple has rejected it over apparent “business conflicts with app guidelines.”

The Steam Link app allows for users to access their collection of PC Steam games from a mobile device — in this case, an iPhone or iPad — and stream them to play using touch controls or a Bluetooth controller.

Valve put out a press statement, which was also echoed on the official Steam Database Twitter account, in regards to Apple’s surprising decision to reject the app:

“On Monday, May 7th, Apple approved the Steam Link app for release,” the statement reads. “On Wednesday, May 9th, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team. Valve appealed, explaining the Steam Link app simply functions as a LAN-based remote desktop similar to numerous desktop applications already available on the App Store. Ultimately, the appeal was denied, leaving the Steam Link app for iOS blocked from release.”

In other words, Apple revoked their initial approval just one day after Valve made its announcement public. It isn’t exactly clear as to why Apple’s review team revoked the approval or what these “business conflicts” could be but some people are suggesting it has something to do with Apple’s 30 percent App Store fee or it could be the fact that Steam Link allows iOS users access to a different app store, the Steam App Store. Either way, it seems like an uphill battle for Valve to convince Apple that the app doesn’t break any rules.

Despite the drama on iOS, Steam Link is still available for Android and can be downloaded immediately.

What do you think of this bit of news? What “business conflicts” is Apple talking about? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.